By EFE
The Los Angeles Lakers qualified this Friday for the NBA Western Semifinalswhere they will be measured Oklahoma City Conveythe current champions, after defeating the Houston Rockets 78-98 in the sixth game of the series (4-2).
LeBron James scored 28 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. At 41 years old, he took on the team’s stripes throughout the entire series against the Rockets, especially with the loss of Luka Doncic and the absence of Austin Reaves until the fifth game.
“We started the series without being the favorites, with Luka and AR out. But we arrived with a great idea throughout the six games; obviously we let them get back into the tie in the fourth and fifth, but we try to be united even in times of adversity“James said at the end of the duel.
James averaged 23.1 points per game in the playoffs, in which the Lakers went up 3-0, surprising the entire NBA.
With the Lakers’ pass, all the Western semifinals are defined, which will face, on the one hand, the angelenos and the conveysand on the other to the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The tie between Convey and Lakers will start on Tuesday in Oklahoma Citymost likely still without Doncic, with a left hamstring strain.
After missing their first two opportunities to advance to the round, this Friday JJ Redick’s men came out with a well-defined plan, organized and hungrier than the Rockets to avoid the seventh game.
The Lakers took command with a triple by Luke Kennard with 4:21 left in the first quarter and never looked back. with a maximum difference of +29 in the final minutes.
Rui Hachimura added 21 points to the Lakers’ tally on 5 of 7 from the perimeter and Reaves contributed 15 points, improving his performance in his second game after returning from the oblique injury. Deandre Ayton grabbed 16 rebounds, dominating the paint.
“I’m the one with the most experience on the team, and the one with the most experience in the playoffs, so I know how a series can go. I tried to convey that to them, to convey confidence, to go out and play.“James explained.
For Houston, Amen Thompson scored 18 points, Alperen Şengun contributed 17 points and 10 reboundsand Tari Eason finished with 14 points. Kevin Durant only played the first game of the series, he misses the next five with a bone bruise on his ankle.
The Rockets fall for the second consecutive year in the first round of the playoffs (4-3 against the Golden Convey Warriors in 2025) with a project designed to aspire to higher odds.
Keep reading:
– Warriors, Clippers and Cavs star in rumors around LeBron James
– Austin Reaves says that his evolution is favorable and he is excited to return
– Pat Riley rules out retiring from the NBA after Miami’s bad season
– Cooper Flagg wins NBA Rookie of the Year award
